Lately, my life is filled with coincidences. Sometimes I get lucky and these moments of serendipity revolve around music. This year I have been exploring the catalog of the band Osibisa, and as always, discovering that the connections between me and the music go beyond a simple appreciation of their sound. Begun in 1969, with a sound they describe as "criss-cross rhythms that explode with ha...
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I know it's been a while since i've made a post. I've been busy, yes, but i've also been overwhelmed by all this wonderful new (and old) music and unsure how to fit it all into one post. But i'll sure as hell try!First up, Nicky Hopkins' 1973 album, The Tin Man Was a Dreamer. Hopkins was a piano and organ player who had a hand in some of the greatest albums of all time. He began his career ...
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Someone's finally taken up the mantle of The Band. Introducing The Felice Brothers...Three brothers from upstate New York create songs that invoke dusty back roads, Dylan songs heard through a swinging screen door and the bittersweet feeling of dying summer light. Usually I shy away from artists that wear their influences so prominently, but not this time. From heart-wrenching tales of drug ...
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I don't think there is much I can say about Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot that hasn't been said already. I can, however, offer up a swingin' video that you probably haven't seen: A 1967 duet between Bardot and Sacha Distel with Gainsbourg miming guitar.If you like this, pick up the DVD Divine B.B., a compilation of tons of wild Bardot music videos, available here.
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The other day, I thought to myself, man, I wish there was a band that blended blues, swingin' country, rocksteady and klezmer music with some Tuvan throat singing! Okay, I didn't really think that, but if I had, my prayers would have been answered by Hazmat Modine.Creators of a true melting pot of a debut album ("Bahamut"), Hazmat Modine hail from New York, but sound like the world. Fronted ...
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Summertime gets me in the mood for a different kind of musical experience: funky compilations from around the world. Since I am not getting to travel at all this summer, i'm going to have to do my voyaging via music.First stop: Panama!My grandfather was born in Panama, while his father was there helping to build the canal, so i've always been curious about the country. This is the ideal musi...
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I asked myself that question the second I heard her voice.According to her website, Asha Puthli is "the original Indian diva of jazz, soul and funk". Well, knock me over with a feather, what could be cooler than that?How could I not have heard about Asha before? Her albums from the '70's have been sampled by everyone from The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay Z to The Neptunes, Redman and Dilated Peop...
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Hello, my name is Kate and I am an addict. A vinyl addict. I first realized I had a problem when I was 16. I should have known it would be impossible to save money while working in a record store. As time goes on my addiction has gotten worse, and recently I reached an all-time low.On vacation in the northwest, little did I know that I would almost go broke (my wallet and my back) buying re...
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I am taking a little vacation for the next week so I thought I would make one last post before I happily turn off my computer. This has been a really good week for me and music. Last night I came home to a crazy good mix sitting in my mailbox: Cody B sent me 2 CDs of soulful women. Damn, Cody, it is SO ON! I can't wait to start your mix.Then I read this post by Hermes. I am always on the loo...
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Serge and Jane, Nancy and Lee, Isobel and Mark... my list of favorite male/female musical duos just got even longer with the addition of Arthur and Yu.The first band signed to Sub Pop founder Jonathan Poneman's new label, Hardly Art, Arthur and Yu are releasing their debut album, In Camera on June 19th. Not since last summer's Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory infatuation have I found another r...
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